'Smokin Hot"

July's Results

True to form, when my month has been ho-hum, I post later than the 1st.  I did manage to keep all but one pound off after my competition, so not too bad considering it could have been 14 or more too. 

"Running"

Before I got pregnant with my now 9 year old, I was "running" a few times a week.  By running, I mean moving at a speed between 4.5 and 5mph.  I am not quick by any stretch, but I was going about 4 miles (walk/run though) at a time back then.  I didn't mind it either. 

July

I am attempting to maintain my almost 15 pound loss for the month of July.  I am a little worried however as I go on vacation soon and gone will be my structured, planned days of eating and exercising.  I'm not really doing anything for vacation either, which while relaxing, scares me because I eat when I'm bored, reading, alone, watching TV, awake....  You get the idea.

It's over

The weight loss challenge is over.  After 39 days of competition, everyone weighed in today.  The top three were close, very close. 

Gluten-Free Challenge

This week's challenge is to go gluten-free.  It's not a celiac issue, so it's not as strict as that would be.  I can't imagine having to do that!  Gluten is in almost everything it seems.  Still, staying away from grains that contain gluten is hard as well. 

Nailed it!

Well, it's official!  I am a lifeguard!  Me!?  After months of practicing two days a week and the last two weekends including Friday nights, I passed the course. 

I do not think of myself as an athlete by any stretch.  However, if you compare my years before children to now, there is quite a difference.  BC (before children), the most activity I ever did was go for a walk and they were quite sporadic at best.  Immediately after I had my daughter 12 or so years ago, I got a little better and walked more often.  Then I joined the Y when we moved here and as I've mentioned before, took the fitness instructor's course so I wouldn't stop going to the Y.  My theory was: if a class was depending on me, I had to be there.  That worked, so I volunteered there for over 12 years, teaching anywhere from 1-5 classes a week.  Last year, when I became full time, I started teaching even more and being a little more adventurous (trapeze anyone?).  Now, I am swimming weekly (I even like it!).  I am going to play hockey (the jury is still out on that one).  I have a bike (and have even used it).  I give cyclefit classes for fun to coworkers (the ones in the challenge with me).  I went downhill skiing for the first time in over 20 years (and will go again, so $$$ though).  I golf weekly (and am really bad at it).

All in all, I am much more active than I used to be.  I have a picture in my car on my visor of my family when we went to Florida in 2008 and seeing it tonight reminded me of how far I have come already.  My weight isn't much less than that picture, but I am quite a bit smaller, (I think).  I just looked for a picture to post and apparently (luckily), I am always the one behind the camera.  Even if I'm not smaller, I'm way healthier and fitter and I'm also setting a better example for my children.  The rest WILL come.

Gotta go plan my next 12 days.  The competition is over on the 28th....